After years of speculation and a month of teasers, Nikon has lifted the curtain on its new Z-series full-frame mirrorless system. The system will initially comprise two bodies – the flagship Z7 and midrange Z6 – alongside three lenses and an F-mount adapter. The Z7 and Z6 are physically almost identical, with the main differences being internal: pixel count, number of autofocus points and maximum burst rate.

The Z7 is a 45.7MP camera with built-in 5-axis image stabilization. It can shoot at up to 9 frames per second and capture 4K video or output a 10-bit 4:2:2 Log video stream over HDMI.

"We aim to become number 1 in full-frame mirrorless cameras in the future"- Nobuyoshi Gokyu, Senior VP, Imaging, Nikon Inc.

The Z-mount is the largest full-frame mirrorless mount on the market with a diameter of 55mm, allowing it to support lenses as fast as F0.95. The flange distance is just 16mm, the shortest of any full-frame mirrorless system. The Z-mount has a 65% smaller flange and 17% larger diameter than the legacy F-mount, which, fundamentally, has remained more or less unchanged since the 1950s.

The Z7 is the flagship model and has a lot in common with the D850, both in terms of core features and price. It features a Nikon-designed 45.7 BSI-CMOS sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization and a hybrid autofocus system with 493 phase-detect points.

The magnesium alloy body is fully weather-sealed to the same level as the D850. It features an ultra-high-resolution electronic viewfinder with 3.6 million dots and 0.8x magnification, along with a 3.2" 2.1M-dot tilting touchscreen display on the rear of the camera. On the top plate is an OLED display showing current camera settings. The Z7 has a single XQD slot, which will support CFexpress via a firmware upgrade in the near future.

The camera's in-body Vibration Reduction system can reduce shake by up to 5 stops and, when used with the optional F-mount adapter, provides 5-axis stabilization for VR-equipped lenses and 3-axis for those without VR.

The camera's in-body Vibration Reduction system can reduce shake by up to 5 stops

The autofocus system features 493 PDAF points with 90% vertical and horizontal coverage. While the camera can detect faces, it lacks an equivalent to Sony's useful Eye AF. Naturally, the Z7 offers subject tracking (though it doesn't behave in the same way as the 3D Tracking system that we enjoy in Nikon's DSLRs) and it's sensitive down to -3EV on lenses with apertures of F2 and faster.

The Z7 can shoot bursts at 9 fps with full autofocus but with exposure locked on the first shot, or at 5.5 fps with with continuous exposure and focus. The Z7's buffer fills up after about 18 14-bit compressed and 23 12-bit lossless compressed Raws. Battery life is rated at 330 shots per charge (CIPA) and a battery grip will be available in the future.

Video features are plentiful. The camera captures UHD 4K video at 30p and 24p using the full width of the sensor. When using a Super 35/DX crop of 1.5x, the camera uses all the pixels in that region to produce its video. There are 435 phase-detect points available when capturing video, with both in-body and electronic VR available to reduce shake.

The Z7 supports 10-bit N-LOG (4:2:2) when output over HDMI as well as the ability to simultaneously output video (8-bit 4:2:0) while recording to the memory card. There's also live focus peaking, zebra stripes, adjustable AF tracking speeds, time code while in 4K mode.

The Nikon Z7 will be available body-only for $3399

The Z7 uses the latest version of the company's SnapBridge wireless system, which includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Users can transfer JPEGs and Raws direct to a PC and, of course, remotely control the camera from a smartphone. The currently available WT-7A wireless transmitter set is also compatible, allowing Wi-Fi transfer outside the SnapBridge system.

The Nikon Z7 will be available body-only for $3399 or bundled with the 24-70mm F4 S lens for $3999 when it ships in late September.

Press Release

NIKON INTRODUCES THE NEW NIKON Z MOUNT SYSTEM, AND RELEASES TWO FULL-FRAME MIRRORLESS CAMERAS: THE NIKON Z7 AND NIKON Z6

MELVILLE, NY (AUGUST 23, 2018 AT 1:01 A.M. EDT) – Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the full-frame (Nikon FX–format) Nikon Z7 and Nikon Z6 mirrorless cameras, as well as NIKKOR Z lenses, featuring a new, larger-diameter mount to enable the next generation of ultimate optical performance.

Mirrorless Reinvented

The new Nikon Z mount system is comprised of mirrorless cameras and compatible NIKKOR Z lenses and accessories. This system has been realized through the pursuit of a new dimension in optical performance. It has inherited Nikon’s tradition of quality, superior imaging technology, intuitive operability and high reliability, all innovated from its digital SLR cameras.

At the heart of the Z mount system is the new, larger-diameter mount, which unlocks further possibilities of lens design. The Z mount system will offer a variety of high-performance lenses, including the fastest lens in Nikon history, with f/0.951. Additionally, the new mount adapter will enable compatibility with NIKKOR F mount lenses, adding to the range of choices for photographers.

The letter “Z” represents the culmination of Nikon’s relentless pursuit of ultimate optical performance, and a bridge to a new chapter. It is about redefining possibilities to provide image makers with tools to pursue greater creativity.

Nikon will expand the value of mirrorless cameras through the pursuit of a new dimension in optical performance, and by upholding Nikon’s tradition of quality while responding to the evolution of imaging technology. By providing image makers with stimulating new products, Nikon will continue to lead imaging culture.

Z7, Z6 Product Overview

The Z7 and Z6 are equipped with a new backside illumination Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor with built-in focal-plane phase-detection AF pixels, and the latest image-processing engine, EXPEED 6.

The high-resolution Z7 has 45.7 effective megapixels, and supports a standard sensitivity range of ISO 64–25600. In combination with NIKKOR Z lenses, the camera achieves an outstanding level of sharpness and detail, all the way to the edges of the image.

The versatile Z6 is an all-purpose FX-format camera with 24.5 effective megapixels, and supports the wide sensitivity range of ISO 100–51200. With superior performance at high ISO sensitivities and full-frame 4K UHD video capture with full pixel readout, the Z6 responds to a variety of needs, such as shooting in dimly lit environments and high-quality movie recording.

These two models combine legendary Nikon reliability and a familiar interface with the benefits of a mirrorless, including rapid FPS, hybrid AF, silent shooting and advanced multimedia capabilities.

A backside illumination CMOS sensor without an Optical Low Pass Filter, with focal-plane phase-detection AF pixels, has been adopted for both the Z7 and the Z6. The Z7 has 45.7 effective megapixels, and supports ISO 64–25600 range of standard sensitivities (reduction to the equivalent of ISO 32 and expansion to the equivalent of ISO 102400 is also possible). The Z6 has an effective pixel count of 24.5 megapixels, and supports a broad range of standard sensitivities, from ISO 100–51200 (additional reduction to the equivalent of ISO 50 and expansion to the equivalent of ISO 204800).

A fast and accurate hybrid AF system with focus points covering approximately 90% of the imaging area

The Z7 has 493 focus points2 and the Z6 has 273 focus points2, enabling broad coverage of approximately 90% of the imaging area both horizontally and vertically. This hybrid AF system uses an algorithm optimized for the FX-format sensor, to automatically switches between focal-plane phase-detection AF and contrast-detect AF when focusing to achieve focus. Newly-designed NIKKOR Z lenses take full advantage of this system, providing faster, quieter and with increased AF accuracy than previously possible for both still images and videos.

The new EXPEED 6 image-processing engine for sharp and clear imaging, and new functions that support creativity

The Z7 and Z6 are equipped with the new EXPEED 6 image-processing engine. Employing the superior resolving power of NIKKOR Z and NIKKOR F mount lenses, subjects are rendered more sharply than ever before. Noise is also effectively reduced.

Additionally, a mid-range sharpening option has been added to Picture Control sharpness parameters. This option, along with existing sharpening and clarity parameters, allows users to make various textures within the screen sharper or softer, for both still images and video3. The cameras also offer 20 options of Creative Picture Control, supporting creative imaging expression. The effect level is adjustable from 0 to 100.

An electronic viewfinder that utilizes Nikon's superior optical and image-processing technologies to offer a clear and natural view

The electronic viewfinder adopted for the Z7 and Z6 is comfortable and easy to use, comparable to optical viewfinders. Both cameras are equipped with an electronic viewfinder for which an approximately 3690k-dot OLED panel has been adopted. The electronic viewfinder has frame coverage and magnification of approximately 100% and 0.8×, respectively, as well as an approximately 37.0° diagonal viewing angle. It draws on Nikon's superior optical technologies and image-processing technologies, ensuring a clear and comfortable view, with reduced aberration and minimum eyestrain, even during extended shoots. Furthermore, a fluorine coat that effectively repels dirt has been applied to the eyepiece protection window. In addition, the <i> menu can be displayed in the electronic viewfinder, allowing users to quickly view and adjust a variety of shooting settings, including ISO sensitivity, AF-area mode, and Picture Control, all while looking through the viewfinder.

An ergonomic design unique to Nikon that enables intuitive and familiar operation

The Z7 and Z6 have inherited the superior operability that Nikon has cultivated over the years through its development of cameras. The bodies are compact, while boasting a firm grip that is easy to hold, and the sub-selector and buttons such as AF-ON, ISO, and exposure compensation are all placed so that they can be operated swiftly and easily. Additionally, a display panel has been placed on the top plate of the camera, where information about settings can be displayed, similar to high-end digital SLR camera models.

Video functions such as 10-bit N-Log that enables wide dynamic range, and timecoding that respond to professional needs

The Z7 and Z6 support recording of not only full-frame 4K UHD (3840 × 2160)/30p movies using the FX-based video format, but also Full-HD/120p movies. Sharper 4K UHD movies are made possible, using the full-pixel readout4. Additionally, Active D-Lighting, electronic vibration reduction, and focus peaking can be used with 4K UHD and Full-HD movie recording. Nikon’s original N-Log color profile can also be used with 10-bit5 HDMI output. The N-Log setting utilizes extensive color depth and twelve-stop, 1,300% dynamic range to record a wealth of tone information from highlights and shadows for more effective color grading. Timecode support makes synchronizing video and sound from multiple devices easier. Additionally, the control ring built into NIKKOR Z lenses can be used to quietly and smoothly adjust settings such as aperture and exposure compensation.

The Z7 and Z6 are equipped with in-camera vibration reduction (VR). The VR unit provides compensation for movement along five axes. The effects of vibration reduction are equivalent to a shutter speed up to approximately 5.0 stops6. This function can also be used effectively with NIKKOR F lenses, including those not equipped with a VR function, with the Mount Adapter FTZ (sold separately)8.

Other features

Same level of strength and durability, as well as dust- and drip- resistance, as the Nikon D850, offered in a compact body

A 3.2-in., approximately 2100k-dot touch-sensitive LCD monitor, with a tilting mechanism

An extended low-light metering range12 allows users to easily capture scenes such as the transition from sunset to starry night sky, using aperture-priority auto exposure

Built-in Wi-Fi® for direct connection to a smart device using SnapBridge

Built-in Wi-Fi® makes the transfer of images and movies to a computer possible

Support for existing digital SLR camera accessories such as the EN-EL15/a/b batteries, WT-7/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter (available separately) for transferring images and movies at high speed over a wired or wireless LAN, and radio-controlled/optical controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting, which makes flexible multi-flash photography possible

Development of the MB-N10 Multi-Power Battery Pack

The MB-N10 Multi-Power Battery Pack that is currently in development will hold two EN-EL15b, effectively increasing the number of shots possible and/or movie recording time by approximately 1.8×. It will provide the same level of dust and drip resistance as the Z7 and Z6, and will support USB charging using the EH-7P Charging AC Adapter. Information regarding the release of this product will be announced at a later date.

Price and Availability

The Nikon Z7 will be available September 27 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $3399.95* for the body-only configuration, or for $3999.95* SRP as a kit with the new NIKKOR Z 24-70 f/4 S lens. The Nikon Z6 will be available in late November for the $1995.95* SRP for the body only configuration, or for the $2,599.95* SRP with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens kit. For more information on these and other Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

Within interchangeable lenses for Nikon SLR cameras and Advanced Cameras with Interchangeable Lens.

Nikon made the decision to go with XQD cards in their Pro cameras for primarily one reason. Faster throughout (faster recording and reading) and higher potential capacity. SD is thought to be near its limit (though that is debatable). But XQD is a standard using with many high speed video cameras and its faster read/write and greater capacity should, in theory, mean more sustained high speed shooting before a buffer fills and less time waiting for a buffer to clear. Canon went with CFast but that isn't working out as well. It is difficult to change from established but SD cards may be reaching their limits. With their high end Pro oriented cameras Nikon is trying to future-proof for the needs of professionals. After all, that is their primary profit market. Since XQD is larger then SD, they likely only had room for one card. On the flip side the potential for storage is both greater and faster. Only time will tell if it was the right choice.

Fine looking camera, to me the problem is the price. Not competitive enough at this price point. Considering that it is closer to an A7RII than an A7RIII it should be about $1000 less to make a splash.

Absolutely. Than they will dropping the z6 at the lower price. And will develop smaller sensor model later for cheaper option. Hope this not taking too much time before we (Nikon cheap product user ☺) move to another

I am still looking for an upgrade to my D700 but nothing has come out that I feel is a worthy upgrade. The camera does just fine for me, it is on the heavy side but that's why I carry around a RX100. It only cost me $300 bucks about year ago, I have the money but find it so hard to drop $3k on any of these new cameras, I just don't see that much improved picture quality. I guess until the colors and overall IQ of my D700 start to go bad, should I even bother looking anymore.

I guess they have to come out with like 3D or something idk lmao. The images from the D700 still blow me away every time I come home to from a shoot. Do you think if I got one of these I would be that much more,(3k worth), blown away?

I suggest check out eBay year after Z7 & Z6 release. Make sure it is sold by a photographer that has gone thru anger management class. This is important because if photographer has this issue they likely have tossed the camera across the room before it is listed in eBay.

Old mount lenses can be used on the new mirror less models with an adaptor. But presumably new Z mount lenses will not be usable on DSLRs, even with an adaptor (at least, not one with glass to correct for the much shorter rear element to sensor distance). What does this do for future lens plans? Will Nikon continue to bring out new lenses with the old style mount, will they bring our parallel models, or will they only bring out Z mount lenses from now on? If Nikon is going to concentrate on lenses with the new mount, people will not want to invest in new DSLR models if the lens lines dry up. Does the new mount perhaps signal an end approaching to Nikon’s commitment to producing new models of DSLRs? Maintaining two lines of lenses in the future seems like a big commitment, and if something has to give, will that be DSLRs? Or will we see future Nikon DSLRs with a Z mount (if the practical problem of maintaining enough physical room for the mirror to flip up can somehow be solved)?

After more and more debate with myself as to what my next FX body should be I have been lusting over the D850 for a year but also patiently waiting for this day to also compare it to the new mirrorless.

I'm torn. For $3300 I would actually prefer the D850 for good "old fashioned" high resolution DSLR reliability. As much as I love the idea of 45MP it also scares my hard drive array. If I want a lower MP then the D750 is not worth $1700 and hope to see that go down to $1200 as standard price.

This then pushes me towards the Z6 as I'm interested in picking up more video work and that one would be the better choice. Good resolution, better video, better FPS with same body. The lesser AF points to the Z7 shouldn't matter for the lower res and not interested in an auto 8K timelapse.

Anyway.. blah blah blah.. the real question as I now see a huge hole.. where is the D760 or is this it?

Trying to figure out NIkon's camera road map is sending me in circles. Help me make a decision lol

Check my gear list.. invested enough. I've worked as an IT professional for 15 years, been shooting Nikon since 2007, been behind a camera since I could physically hold one :)

I've had enough side jobs along the way to now make the move full time and wondering if my dual D500s (been doing a lot of sport and live events) are enough. My girlfriend wants me to get into weddings and while I'm happy using what I have.. I would like something more than a 20MP DX sensor for the main portrait and product work.

Time for a Sony-shift ;-). After some Nikon and Canon... I super love my A7R3. The Z7 seems not that mature (and an issue for pros, given the single slot, battery life and current specific lenses): more than a reinvention is a partial copy :)

Nothing was built in a day. Remember what je was asking:Relax and use what you are used to.Dont tell me a Portrait with a mirrorless seels better than one witj a high res Dslr you can pick up at a reasonable price

In my opinion the Z cameras are nice looking but overpriced an underpowered. They will loose value fast. D850 is a safer choice. you might want to check out Tony and Chelsea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUii9dTwPkw

Think I'm going to go with putting in a back-order for a D850. I have also contemplated the D810 but without a big price drop I don't think it's worth it. Now that I'm used to the D500 and very much enjoy using it I want the D850 for similarity.

On the Sony front, if they magically make a slightly larger body or at least a better grip for the A9II I might dabble further than my A6000 :)

@visualenvyon a different note, if you get used to an A9 is really difficult to go back to anything else if your main subjects are people. Eye focus with the accuracy and speed of the A9 on a 93% of the frame, silent shutter and 20fps grows addictive fast. I personally like the small for factor of the A9. It makes it so non-assuming and non-intrusive, which couples very well with the silent shutter. If I really need extra body I use the battery grip.

I'm confident that the folks at Nikon are more intelligent than you could ever dream of being.How many cameras have you designed and manufactured? None? Okay.You leave yourself open to attack you loose... and lose, Wally-San!

So, this is a nice announcement, with some nice lenses, and nice cameras. Good image quality, good lenses, good focus. A nice package.

If you have a D750 and a full set of lenses, you should consider upgrading. Also, if you have a D800 or D810 (although it is not clear you will gain that much).

You should certainly not switch if you have a D850, A7R3, A7R2, A73, or if you are in the Canon ecosystem. I can imagine some pros getting a Z6 as a D850 backup.

But it is a bit disappointing that there is very little to be enthusiastic about. No advance over the state of the art on any dimension. Every feature in these cameras is already available in other cameras (including by Nikon). Not a single "wow" comment in these forums. And people are talking about what should be fixed in future versions, on announcement day.

So, are Nikon set off on a path to replicate every current F-mount lens they make in Z-mount?

If not, then the Z system is a niche product requiring you use the adaptor for the missing lenses. This may be Nikon's plan. It would keep both systems current and stop F-mount users fretting about Nikon's commitment to producing new F mount lenses and cameras.

If they do start going beyond the core set of lenses and start replicating existing lenses then it begs the question, is F-mount now a dead end?

It certainly is for Sony in my view with A mount. I don't think Sony care about that. I reckon they are already happy enough with E mount sales not to care about their stoic A mount user base. The NIkon F-mount user base is far bigger so I don't think Nikon can ignore it or write is off so easily.

This is a dilemma for Nikon. Keep the z system niche with a few native lenses, why bother with it? Make it a competitor to f mount, why bother with that anymore?

Mirrorless is the only growing market in the sector so Nikon's plan is to tap it. They also want to retain users and stop any defection to other brands (primarily Sony E but potentially Canon mirrorless.

It's hard as a consumer to accept that however loyal you are and however much money you've spent in the past, your value is lower than a new customer who is spending money now.

Nikon will never say that F mount is 'dead', but as Chris says, all R&D is now on Z. No new F mount lenses will be designed, and Nikon will release comparable lenses in the new mount.

It's a less than ideal outcome and that is why Nikon and Canon have left it as late as possible to do it. Nikon knows it will annoy some of its hardcore DSLR users, but it is prepared to chuck them under the bus to get new users who will spend more. (Mirrorless offers the potential of more sales to women for example). This is not a Nikon thing - Sony would do the same.

Well what about Nikon's new 500mm F5.6? This is an F mount lens and is being promoted by Nikon on their press release as an ideal way for Z mount users to get a 500mm telephoto lens.

That says to me do not expect to see a Z mount native 500mm F5.6 lens and reinforces my belief Nikon will release a few core focal lengths and zooms in Z mount and for the rest of one's needs they expect you to buy the F mount lens and use the adapter.

This may make perfect sense to Nikon who may well have managed to make the Z mount cameras drive F mount lenses equally as well as an F mount body does. The trouble with that is, if so who needs a Z mount lens? May as well buy an F mount and retain the ability to stick on a DSLR.

OK the prospect of a F0.95 50mm might appeal to a few but what is the compelling reason to buy a Z mount body and faff about putting the adapter on and off when you want to use first your Z mount 0.95 and then the new F mount 500mm F5.6?

@colorfotos Good point, Jared Polin stated that he asked that question, response was to keep the size down, might seem like a weak answer, that camera needed to be slightly larger to accommodate a larger battery and the 2nd card slot. However it was likely a balancing act, keeping the size down due to cost which in turn necessitated the exclusion of the 2nd card slot; it was probably an engineering nightmare of compromises.

"We aim to become number 1 in full-frame mirrorless cameras in the future"- Nobuyoshi Gokyu, Senior VP, Imaging, Nikon Inc

What a pointless statement! What else would they say in a marketing announcement... "we aim to become number 2"?.... "we aim to be number 3"..."we aim to sell fewer mirrorless cameras than any other manufacturer"?

It would actually mean a bit more if they gave some indication of how they planned to achieve Number 1 status in the future, rather than just providing a rather weak lens road map. Quite a few Nikon users were stung by them dropping the Nikon 1 system and they should be doing everything they can to give potential purchasers confidence in the longevity of their new z system.

neither casio, kodak, nikon, sony has ever any truly new-tech patents that are not just predominantly "workaround patents"

whenever great tech is:NOT implementedorimplemented merely "on-and-off" (inconsistently, or partially, or poorly)by a tech companyit's obvious that tech company has ZERO control: no say at allexcept for minor time and model limited contractual restrictions, limitations, and "trade-offs" of "allowable tech used"

based on the responses on this forum we can anticipate zero sales and we won't see any on the street anytime soon, I mean who is going to buy them given the apparent crisis of only one card slot? So now it hangs on Canon's move ...

@Gmon750 - "Canon is smart by letting everyone else jump in and make their mistakes."

The notion that a company can only learn from "mistakes" is by sitting it out and watching other companies sell products is totally absurd. Sony is learning from mistakes *while* they are selling products and making money. Nikon is too. And with every sale, they grow their usership.

Plus, nothing beats getting *your* product to market and improving on *your* product, because *your* system, *your* firmware, *your* technology will be different from some other company's.

The other downside to sitting it out (besides losing out on sales) is that the expectations become higher and people become less forgiving of any issues that your product might have, because people will say, "What have you been doing all this time? Haven't you been learning from everyone else's mistakes? Shouldn't you be a lot better?" That's the issue the Nikon Z is running into now:

1) Live-View capability (not one without LV, like film cameras and some dcams); i never had a digicam without LV; my first digicam ever, Casio QV-10B, had LV back in 1996, but it was auto-exposure only "auto-gain LV" (framing-LV-only); no full manual live exposure preview capabilities at all

3) FF (not APSH, nor APSC, or smaller; already had an APSC Cybershot R1; but it was missing video. plus, it had WYSIWYG-LV, and Vari-Angle Swivel-Screen)

4) Vari-Angle Swivel-Screen (but no FF LV dSLRs had it ... so, 5DMkII was a "compromise"; even though it had newer Canon ExpSimLV (WYSIWYG-LV for EOS LV dSLRs) = Full Manual LIVE Exposure Preview CONTROL (stills and cine/video)

@T3 - "absurd" according to you, Mr. Random Internet Person. I don't have any problem whatsoever on Canon letting their solution bake in a bit. I believe they have something in the works that will quiet the naysayers, until they find something else to hate about Canon.

Congrats to Nikon for finally pulling it off. Their first step into FF mirrorless is a decent step. The new mount certainly shows they are looking forward and taking things seriously. Im really looking forward to what they can bring to the table in the future.Nobody should be too hard on them for this first attempt into a new format. Specs look good and it shows that Nikon had a good understanding of what was expected of them.

I'm not so sure that the new mirrorless bodies are meant for the exact same users. or are intended to replace those DSLRs. Nikon has stated that they will offer two systems, suggesting that they'll continue to make DSLRs in parallell with mirrorless cameras.

But if Nikon ff dslr users are not enticed, canon users hold out for their ff canon mirrorless offering, and Sony users are not tempted...... That only leaves new camera owners and Nikon budget apsc users upgrading.

Probably it was not meant to be profitable (as in number of sales for these two bodies) ... just starting a system, and probably make a real pro body available when some lenses add-up. For what it looks to me this camera will only be bought by pros owning lot of nikon glass (as a 3rd+ body, for curiosity, for non-critical work, personal use because of it's size, etc) and by wealthy photo nikon-enthusiasts. For others, it makes little sense... you are not entering in a system where you have to buy legacy adapted lenses.

I'm sure they will make profit somehow and I'm quite sure that both Z7 and 6 will do well (but not great) as a start up for new system. I think the main point of these 2 cameras is to protect old Nikonian from switching to A7.

For me, I'm Nikonian my whole photography life (20 years, not professional shooter, just for leisure). I sold my Df a year ago and some of AF-S lenses and go for small M43 because the DSLR is too slow, too heavy and too inconvenience to use for taking my twin babies indoor (sometime have to hold one in my left and took pictures of another).

Now, my babies are 3y and I think I need more serious camera. I tried A7iii, X-H1 and Panasonic G9. I don't like cramped buttons in small body of A7, uncomfortable grip (for me) of X-H1 and the quite obsolete sensor of the G9.

For me, Z7 and 6 are very attractive. Familiar control, lighter, smaller and can use my AIS and AFD (which I keep to work with my FM2 and F100) That's enough.

Also, to be clear, by "wealthy" ... i mean a person who has some rather serious money to invest in their hobbies, not "super rich". Being able to trow some money from time to time in a hobby of ours (like photography is for you and me) is quite fortunate.

Did I miss something or has DPR failed to announce the "real" event of the day, which is the availabilty, specs, and pricing of the Nikkor 500mm f/5.6 PF? I know there were not many teasers for this one, but still... ;-)

This is a big deal and glorious day for us hand-holding birders, with 1460g it's the lightest 500mm AF lens, and probably one of the sharpest and fastest, too!

I feel Z7 was designed to compete with A7RII, not A7RIII. Same great pic quality and IBIS. Same one card slot and small capacity battery, and real life CAF that is not what it seems, with rather small buffer for raw files. Nikon probably started developing its mirrorless system in 2015, when A7RII came out and thought it was going to be a benchmark for a while, so it developed a system that competes well with A7RII. However, in the mean time, Sony came out with A7RIII, A9 and A7III....... Nikon is 3.5 years behind.

But it is not true is it. The Nikon has better viewfinder, rear screen, build quality, weather sealing, video, top lcd, larger lens mount which allows better lens design, faster lens and more adaptability to other lenses, much better ergonomics, higher resolution sensor.

Finally, some competition for Sony in FF mirrorless. I hope this leads to better products, lower prices, and a rewrite of Sony firmware, especially the UI — the weakest point of Sony cameras. I shoot a7r3 nowadays and Nikon UI is a pinnacle of ergonomics in comparison.

I will wait for the ‘sports and wildlife’ version. This is too slow. 23 shot buffer? D500 has an unlimited buffer at 14bit lossless compressed raw and 10FPS. They seem to be off to a good start and need to torque up a few areas. I love the IBIS feature and wish they would put that into current D500. But kuddos to Nikon for getting the ball rolling.

DPreview why don't you create a mirrorless system for measuring battery life.

This CIPA 330 shots is a joke. It was a joke on A7 series and is joke on every other mirrorless.

We all know even the original A7 can do 1000 shots on a charge. Same for this new camera......Of course 1000 requires attention and keeping the camera off when not used. 600 shots on a7 was something one can reasonably expect without much care....

you had a special A7. My A7, A7R, A7ii and a7RII battery life was pathetic. It was 200 shots at most. I had all of these. My first camera in that line with normal battery capacity was A9, which I could shoot 1500 and above shots with.

What I found out is that the on/off switch must be used regularly on mirrorless.

DSLR shooters would regularly leave the camera on between shots for long periods of time. Having the camera on between scenes for a minute or two kills the battery and it is entirely possible that 200 shots is hard to get.

If you turn off camera regularly 500-600 shots on original A7 was easy to get. 1000 being entirely possible when shooting events. With 500 shots per battery there is enough stamina to review and upload the to phone too....

On A7R m3 I have had shoots with 500 shots, Several reviews on the screen. Upload to phone. At the end I would be with 60% battery remaining ...

This is a great development for Nikon current/future users and good news for those interested in Sony alpha series (competitive pressure leading to more innovation/improvements).Overall, good news for all photographers

Possible that corner shading/vignetting remains an issue with all kind of thicker sensor glass cover than on Leica's cameras for wide angle M lenses. Question is if this is worse on the Z7 compared to the A7R series, better, or the same. Nobody knows yet.

"As has already been reported the Nikon mount is more open than Sony's." Not the issue with Leica wide-angles -it's the acute angle that the light hits the micro-lenses. I would assume it will be similar with the Nikon.

Nikon Z7/Z6 will appeal more to those only used to Coolpix/Nikon 1 "framing-LV-only"

and the many dcam users who have never seen "live exposure preview" ...because the Live-View dcam they have, either never had itor if they had it, never knew they had itor if they had it, it was poorly implemented, awkard to use, not full time, menu-interruption-prone, or restricted/limited in some other way (making its use, a royal pain)or they never ever seen itand if they seen so-so implementations of it, never seen the best implementations of it "in use" (when best needed)

it's really bizarre when encountering someone today, in 2018, so late in digicam experience, who finally sees "live exposure preview" at its best for the first time, even though it has now been around 18/19 years

Things we heard from Nikon users in the last few years:- I will never buy a camera with an EVF, ever. OVF is the ONLY way.- LOL, are you going to carry 10 batteries with you?- IBIS sucks; in lens is way better.- Adapters are terrible; give me native mount any day,- Why do you want a smaller camera? I want bigger.

Things we hear from Nikon users today:- Wow, this EVF is fantastic!- Battery life is pretty good for a mirrorless.- It has in-body stabilization; nice!- I can mount all my lenses with an adapter; nice!- What no accessory grip?

Nikon's choice to design the Z6/Z7 to be able to use the same batteries as Nikon DSLRs is a smart move. Like the FTZ adapter (but to a lesser extent [who cares as much about their batteries as their precious lenses]), this choice won't alienate their existing customers.

But, BUT, their CIPA rating seems to say otherwise.

Contrary to popular comment-section belief, the EN-EL15 series batteries aren't weak at all (1900 mAh; perhaps slightly more for the EL15b variant). Sony's tiny NP-FW50 is a mere 1020 mAh and it gives the A7 II a CIPA rating of 330 (270 w/EVF) which is right in line with the Z7/Z6. Sony's NP-FZ100 is 2280 mAh, and it gives the A7 III a CIPA rating of 710.

So regarding power efficiency, should I ask "how the heck did Sony do it!?", or should I ask "why the heck can't Nikon match Sony!?" Does it take that much more energy to drive the higher-res EVFs and LCDs found on the Z6/Z7, or does Nikon need to scoop up some Sony engineers?

When it comes to interchangeable lens cameras specifically, I think of Nikon (and Canon) as bigger players. But you're right, Sony is and has nearly always been largely an electronics company, I get that. We've gotta keep that in mind.

Meh, it seems like nowadays it's more important to have a decent software development team than mechanical engineering one. Nikon is not very strong in that area. For illustration, Samsung NX1 had a full sensor readout 4k in h265 with no overheating years before others due to their superior SoC and software development tied to smartphone division.

More about gear in this article

With tons of resolution and dynamic range, the Nikon Z7 is a great camera for shooting landscapes. But what about semi-pro wrestling? We spent an evening with the Z7 at DEFY Wrestling, which offered plenty of peak action and tricky lighting - see the results in our updated sample gallery.

In many respects the Nikon Z7 is a seriously impressive camera. But as our review nears completion we've identified a number of ways in which we think it could be improved significantly – and they primarily relate to autofocus.

Testing and real-world shooting show slight banding and striping patterns in Nikon Z7 images, undermining its otherwise excellent dynamic range. We demonstrate when you'll encounter the effect so you can assess its importance for your photography.

Nikon's Sendai factory in the Tōhoku region North of Japan has been churning out cameras and lenses since 1971. We had the opportunity recently to visit Sendai during events to mark the launch of Nikon's new Z mount.

Latest in-depth reviews

Nikon's Coolpix P1000 has moved the zoom needle from 'absurd' to 'ludicrous,' with an equivalent focal length of 24-3000mm. While it's great for lunar and still wildlife photography, we found that it's not suited for much else.

The Nikon Z7 is slated as a mirrorless equivalent to the D850, but it can't subject track with the same reliability as its DSLR counterpart. AF performance is otherwise good, except in low light where hunting can lead to missed shots.

Latest buying guides

What's the best camera for under $500? These entry level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Sony mirrorlses cameras in several categories to make your decisions easier.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Canon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Nikon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.

What’s the best camera for less than $1000? The best cameras for under $1000 should have good ergonomics and controls, great image quality and be capture high-quality video. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing under $1000 and recommended the best.

Canon's EOS R, the company's first full-frame mirrorless camera, impresses us with its image quality and color rendition. But it also comes with quirky ergonomics, uninspiring video features and a number of other shortcomings. Read our full review to see how the EOS R stacks up in today's full-frame mirrorless market.

We spoke to wildfire photographer Stuart Palley about his experiences shooting the recent Woolsey fire, why the Nikon Z7 isn't quite ready to take a permanent spot in his gear bag, and 'that' Tweet from Donald Trump.

The Z7 presented Nikon with a stiff challenge: how to build a mirrorless camera that measures up to its own DSLRs and can deliver a familiar experience to Nikon users. Chris and Jordan tell us whether they think Nikon succeeded.

Nikon has released firmware version 1.02 that resolves a flickering issue when scrolling through images, an ISO limitation problem, and an occasional crash that could occur when displaying certain Raw files.

The Insta360 One X is the company's latest consumer 360-degree camera, supporting 5.7K video, including excellent image stabilization, as well as 18MP photos. And, in our experience, it's a really fun camera to use.